Infant&#39;s crib



A. C. ABAJIAN Jan. 19, 1965 INFANT S CRIB Filed May 8, 1961 H IS ATTORNEYS United States Patet 3,165,760 HNFANTS CRlB Aram flhristianAhajian, 135 E. 71st St, New Yorh, N.Y. Filed Miayfi, 196i, er. No.1%,443 1t) Qlaims. (til. -97) This invention relates to a crib and moreparticularly to an infants crib that can be readily disassembled.

Some of the disadvantages of conventional infants cribs includeexcessive weight and size, lack of ease in assembling, lack of rigidityand durability (in the case of takeapart cribs), and non-adaptability touse in automobiles. Furthermore, difficulties have been experienced withpermanent rigid cribs from the infant injuring itself by falling againstthe rigid sides and ends of the crib.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to pr0- vide an infantscrib which is durable, safe, light in weight and easy to assemble anddisassemble.

It is another object of the invention to provide a crib which willprotect the infant from insects, animals, windblown leaves, and otherblown or falling objects.

Another object of the invention is to provide a crib which is adjustablein height, has the ability to support the infants weight on the topthereof and is adapted for use in automobiles and other vehicles.

Another object is to effect an improvement whereby the infant isprotected from possible injury by falling against the corner posts andother rigid members of the crib.

Still another object is to provide an infants crib which can bedisassembled into a compact, easily portable device.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention are accomplishedby providing a structure having a rectangular frame composed ofhorizontal and vertical tubular members, a fabric net portion whichincludes partial tubular flexible members attached to the net andadapted to clip onto the four horizontal end members of the frame, andsleeves adapted to receive the horizontal longitudinal members of theframe. The clip-on members serve to lock the end assemblies of the frameto the remainder of the structure. In addition, the clip-on membersproduce desired tension in the top and bottom panels so as to impartrigidity and strength to the assembled structure and at the same timekeep the netting removed from the frame as much as possible.

Strips of nylon fabric tape are preferably distributed in an overlappingdiagonal crosswise arrangement on the side, end and bottom panels of thenetting. The tension produced by the clip-on members is largely carriedby the strips. This feature still further increases the strength andrigidity of the frame and the netting, thereby protecting the child asdescribed above.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the advantagesthereof, reference will be made to the following description andaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the crib and netting in the assembledposition;

FIG. 2 is a view of a section taken on a plane represented by the lines2-2 of FIG. land looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a view of a section taken on a plane represented by the lines33 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

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FIG. 4 is a view of a section taken on a plane represented by the lines4-4 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of one of the longitudinal tubularmembersforming aside portion of the frame;

FIG. 6 is a view of a section taken on a plane represented by the lines6-6 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a lower corner of the frame; and i PEG. 8is a view from the inside of the crib showing the stitched overlappingarrangement of the crosswise nylon tape; and i FIG. 9 is a view of amodified flexible sleeve arrang ment in accordance with the presentinvention taken on a plane represented by the lines 9 of FIG. 1 andlooking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 shows the rectangular frameof the crib having four vertical adjustable corner posts 11 made ofaluminum tubing, four tubular aluminum supports forming the horizontalend sections 12 of the frame and four aluminum tubular members formingthe longitudinal side sections 13 of the frame, said sections beinginter-connected by means of four plastic fittings Ma at the uppercorners and four plastic fittings 14b at the lower corners.

As shown more particularly in FIG. 7, the vertical tubular corner posts11 each comprise an upper section 11:: and a lower section 1117, thelatter being of a smaller diameter so as to telescope within the uppersection. The upper section 11a has evenly spaced holes 15 on both sidesthereof, while the lower section 1115 has a springactuated button 16adapted to engage the holes and thus provide for the adjustable legs.The bottoms of the corner posts ll are fitted with tips 17 made: from aplastic material or other suitable substitute. Each longitudinal sidesupport 13 is a two-piece structure wherein one of the pieces 18 has atubular plastic fitting: 19 at one end thereof which is received withinan end 26' of the other of the two sections. The structure of thelongitudinal supports is shown clearly in FIG. 5.

The netting portion 21 of the crib is of a rectangular box-like shapewhen in use. The netting is formed of a strong resilient fabric materialsuch as nylon, is stitched with strong nylon thread, and has a zipperedtop 22 as shown in FIG. 1. Fastened to the longitudinal side portions ofthe netting are flexible sleeves 23 made of a strong fabric materialsuch as canvas through which are inserted the longitudinal side supports13 of the frame as shown in FIG. 9. An alternative embodiment is shownin FIG. 2 wherein the sleeves 23 are sewn or otherwise attached to thenetting at a single point such as by the use of a single seam orgrommet. These sleeves are somewhat larger than the diameter of thetubular longitudinal members of the frame to allow the tubing to beinserted quickly and easily in the sleeve. To the four ends of thebox-like netting are attached partial tubular flexible plastic members24 which clip onto the horizontal end members 12 of the frame as clearlyshown in FIGURES 3 and 4. Strips of flexible nylon tape 25 are stitchedin an overlapping crosswise arrangement on the side, end and bottomportions of the netting as shown clearly in FIG. 8.

The spring-actuated button 16 which provides the adjustable'leg featureis depicted in detail in FIG. 6. The spring portion of the button issecured to the inner wall of the corner post 11b at its uppermost end.The button rides within a bearing ring 26 which surrounds the cornerpost 1112 at its uppermost end and eliminates binding or squeaking. Thebearing ring is preferably made of plastic although other suitablematerials may be utilized.

This combination of frame and netting provides a strong, durablestressed skin construction in which the fabric is suspended away fromthe frame to diminish the chance of injury caused by the child hittingthe frame of the crib. The partial tubular plastic members of thenetting snap over the horizontal end supports of the frame therebyproducing tension particularly in the top and bottom of the netting.This provides a strengthened crib by virtue of the stressed skincontruction. The stressed construction also helps to hold the tubularmembers of the frame together with their co-operating corner members.Indeed, the top portion of the netting is strong enough to support aninfants weight and can be used as a bathinette.

The crosswise arrangement of nylon tape sewn in overlapping sectionsprovides greater rigidity in the side, end and bottom panels of thenetting. The nylon fabric tape, being sewed to the netting throughoutits entire length, allows the assembly to function in a manner similarto a suspension bridge where a force applied to one point of thestructure is evenly distributed throughout the assembly. When thezippered top is closed, it too will become tensioned due to the uniquestructure of the crib. This uniform stress distribution is aided by theconstruction of the flexible sleeves 23 since the inside dimensions ofthe sleeves are sufficient to allow movement of the netting in adirection which permits distribution of stresses from one panel toanother.

we ave Thus, it can be seen that the netting not only prevents the frameof the crib from coming apart, but also imparts to the frame rigidityand the ability to withstand internal and external stresses.

In another embodiment of this invention, there is provided a novelmattress 27 comprising a double thickness of quilted plastic materialcovering relilient Tufflex padding and supported by sixteen locked-inwhite pine slats 28 taped together in parallel arrangement by a strongadhesive tape 29 at each end of each slat so as to space the slats aboutone-half inch apart. Each slat can move independently while .at the sametime a load on one slate will be distributed to the other slats as wellas to the entire crib. The mattress thus supplements the over-allconcept of distributing stresses throughout the entire assembly of thecrib while simultaneously providing resiliency, shock-absorption and acertain rigidity to safeguard the body of the infant.

As an additional feature of this invention to emphasize the compactnessand portability of the crib, the frame and net may be disassembled andstored in a compact carrying case having a shoulder strap and measuring,in one embodiment, 24 in length and 9" in diameter.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will bereadily understood. Since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and described and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto. For example, instead of using rust-proof anodized aluminum for theframe, light-weight steel tubing could be substituted. Also, the nettingportion may be made of any suitable material and in various sizes.

I claim i 1. A crib comprising in combination:

(l) a rectangular take-apart frame including:

(a) four vertically disposed corner post members,

(b) two upper and two lower longitudinal members forming the sides ofthe crib,

(0) two upper and two lower lateral members forming the ends of thecrib, the longitudinal and lateral members being connected to thevertical corner posts thereby forming a parallelepipedon, and

(2) a one-piece body portion of flexible sheet material completelycovering said frame and having six rectangular panels forming the sides,ends, top and bottom panels of the crib, the combination of frame andbody portion providing when assembled a strong, durable stressed skinconstruction in which each of the six rectangular panels of the bodyportion is under tension thereby holding the fname together undercompression and imparting rigidity and strength to the crib.

2. The crib recited inclaim 1, wherein at least the side and end panelsof the sheet material have diagonally arranged means for reinforcingsaid frame.

3. The crib as recited in claim 2, wherein the diagonally arranged meanscomprises strips of flexible material dis tributed in an overlappingarrangement on said panels.

4. A crib comprising in combination when assembled:

(1) a rectangular take-apant frame composed of:

(a) four vertically disposed tubular corner post members,

([2) two upper and two lower longitudinal tubular members forming thesides of the crib,

(0) two upper and two lower lateral tubular members forming the ends of[the crib, the longitudinal and lateral members being connected to thevertical corner posts thereby forming a parallelepipedon, and

(2) a one-piece fabric net portion completely covering the frame andhaving:

(a) six rectangular panels forming the sides, ends,

top and bottom panels of the crib,

(b) partial tubular flexible members clipped onto the lateral endmembers of the frame,

(c) sleeves receiving the longitudinal side members of the frame, thecombination of frame and fabric net portion providing when assembled astrong, durable stressed skin construction in which each of the sixrectangular panels of the fabric net portion is under tension therebyholding the frame together under compression and imparting rigidity andstrength to the crib.

5. The crib recited in claim 4, wherein at least the side and end panelsof the net have diagonally arranged means for reinforcing said frame.

6. The crib recited in claim 4, including plastic corner fittingsadapted to interlock the tubular members.

7. The crib as recited in claim 4 also including a mattress composed ofa double thickness of quilted plastic which covers resilient paddingmaterial and is supported by locked-in White pin slats taped together ina parallel arrangement by a strong adhesive tape at each end of theindividual slats so as to provide a space of about one-half inch betweeneach slat.

8. In a crib comprising when assembled, a net portion and a rectangulartake-apart frame having four vertically disposed corner post members,two upper and two lower longitudinal members forming the sides of theframe and two upper and two lower lateral members forming the ends ofthe crib wherein the longitudinal and lateral members are connected tothe vertical corner posts forming a parallelepipedon, the improvementcomprising a one-piece fabric net portion, including:

I v (a) partial tubular flexible members clipped onto the lateral endmembers of the frame,

(1)) sleeves receiving the longitudinal side members of the frame,

5 6 (c) six rectangular panels forming the sides, ends, top arrangedmeans comprises strips of reinforcing material and bottom panels of thecrib, and distributed in an overlapping crosswise arrangement also (d) azippered top, the combination of frame and on the bottom panel of thenet.

body portion providing when assembled a strong,

durable stressed skin construction in which each of 5 References Clted mthe file of thls patent the six rectangular panels of the fabric netportion UNITED STATES PATENTS is under tension thereby holding the frametoge her 724,316 Morris et a1. Mar. 31, 1903 under compression andimparting rigidity and 2,586,247 Mover Feb. 19, 1952 strength to thecrib. 7 2,601,111 Foster June 17, 1952 9. The crib of claim 8 wherein atleast the side and 10 2,616,100 Weiner Nov. 4, 1952 end panels of thenet portion have diagonally arranged means for reinforcing saidstructure. FOREIFHTI PATENTS 10. The structure of claim 9 wherein thediagonally 7 03 Great Brltaln Jan. 16, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,1 65 760 January 19, 1965 AramChristian Abajian It is hereby certified that error appears in the abovenumbered patt requiring correction and that the said Letters Patentshould read as rrec'ted below.

I I Column 3, line 47, for "relilient" read resilient lu mn 4, line 59,for "pin" read pine Signed and sealed this 1st day of June 1965.,

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of PatentsIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIiIiIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIiiINiIiIIIIIIIiIIIiuIIIIII\IIWWWWW

1. A CRIB COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (1) A RECTANGULAR TAKE-APART FRAME INCLUDING: (A) FOUR VERTICALLY DISPOSED CORNER POST MEMBERS, (B) TWO UPPER AND TWO LOWER LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS FORMING THE SIDES OF THE CRIB, (C) TWO UPPER AND TWO LOWER LATERAL MEMBERS FORMING THE ENDS OF THE CRIB, THE LONGITUDINAL AND LATERAL MEMBERS BEING CONNECTED TO THE VERTICAL CORNER POSTS THEREBY FORMING A PARALLELEPIPEDON, AND (2) A ONE-PIECE BODY PORTION OF FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL COMPLETELY COVERING SAID FRAME AND AND HAVING SIX RECTANGULAR PANELS FORMING THE SIDES, ENDS, TOP AND BOTTOM PANEL OF THE CRIB, THE COMBINATION OF FRAME AND BODY PORTION PROVIDING WHEN ASSEMBLED A STRONG, DURABLE STRESSED SKIN CONSTRUCTION IN WHICH EACH OF THE SIX RECTANGULAR PANELS OF THE BODY PORTION IS UNDER TENSION THEREBY HOLDING THE FRAME TOGETHER UNDER COMPRESSION AND IMPARTING RIGIDITY AND STRENGTH TO THE CRIB. 